Jessica Poirier-Chang

Never has a video game been more emotional and poignant in its storytelling. Under the guise of magical, playful fantasy, each detail is an allegory for a much darker, terrifying and pervasive reality. The way the visuals, puzzles, music, colors and characters intertwine innocence and innocence lost is deeply arresting. What brings wonder and merriment to our eyes is also quickly understood as Quico’s tender escapist imagination, an imagination that is his only gateway to comprehend and cope with the terrors of his everyday life. This game is more than a game but a love letter to all children who grow up under the same hard circumstances and also, to me, as an act of peace and forgiveness from a boy to his oppressive father. This game should be praised and made into a feature film by Ang Lee or Guillermo del Toro...directors who truly understand metaphors and allegories and how to effectively portray them on screen. Papo y Yo pushes the conversation as to what video games are and can be. Mad respect for its creator and the team behind it.